GHRI Investigates: Is This New Bedding a Fire Risk?

A major complaint about memory-foam bedding is that it holds in heat, making for a sweaty night's sleep. A new "gel-infused" foam is touted as feeling cooler. As with any new bedding products, we wondered what might happen in the hottest situation of all — a fire. We set pillows and mattress toppers aflame to find out

WE TESTED the flammability of three new pillows and two mattress toppers made with gel-infused blue foam. We evaluated the pillows in accordance with CA 117, a foam standard required by California and used by the industry. The toppers were tested following the CFR 1632 federal mattress and mattress pad standard.

WE FOUND that the blue foam in all three pillows flat-out flunked the "afterflame" test, which measures how long the product continues to burn after it is exposed to a direct flame. While the maximum average "afterflame" allowed by the standard is five seconds, the blue foam in Serta Gel Memory Foam Bed Pillow ($80), Sleep Innovations Gel Memory Foam Classic Pillow ($35), and Serta iComfort Contour Pillow ($99) had afterflames averaging 37.7 seconds, 44.1 seconds, and 89.4 seconds, respectively — extremely alarming numbers. We're further concerned because one, the iComfort, bears a label stating that it meets the flammability requirements of CA 117. The good news: The mattress toppers passed the mattress flammability tests.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

WE RECOMMEND that the CPSC immediately recall these pillows from the market. We also urge the U.S. government to develop federal standards for all foam bedding. If you've already purchased these pillows, we advise that you stop using them.